Elevator control switch



Feb. 2s, 1928;

M. B. MGLAUTHLIN ELEVATOR CONTROL SWITCH Feb. 28, 192s'.

M. B. MCLAUTHLIN `ELEVATOR CONTROL SWITCH Filed sept. 17. 1921 s sheets-sheet 2 a f Iii 5/ 74/\r Bg se n Feb. 28, 1928.

M. B. MCLAUTHLIN ELEVATOR CONTROL SWITCH Filed Sept, 17, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

":llED STATES' PATENT FFI'C. Y

ELEVATOR GON'IROL Svi/"ETCEE,

Application filed September 17, 1921.

rhis invention relates to control switches for elevators which may be readily adapted ior all types of electric power, employing direct or alternating current, for insuring that when the power circuit is interrupted while the switch is closed it may not be reestablished without opening" the control switch and'then closingit. This provides against accidents liable to occur through unexpected starting of an elevator car afterl an interruptioninvthe service if the controller should have been lett in `runningposition. For this purpose a main switch prel erably ol the magnetically closed V11o-voltage opening type is interposed between the serv ice mains and the motor. v This switch is initially closed by the closing of the circuit by the controller switch and'is maintained closed so long. as the current flows in this circuit. @n lailure of the current this main switch opens and the control circuitniay not thereafter he closed to close the switch cX- cept by moving the controller switch to its olii position and then closing it by moving it to its on position in one or the other direction. lhis switch also carries the conta-ct arms for rerersing the motor7 these'arms beingactuated with the control circuit switch.

ii. further feature ,of this invention relates to the constructionv and mounting ot these arms by which theswitch is readilyadjustable to various types ot' electric power.

This invention also provides a construction whereby the controller switch may be operated by a cable actuable from the elerator car and which is ableto withstand severe usage without beingdamaged.

For a more complete understanding ot this invention, together with further objects and advantageous details of construction and combinations of parts7 reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan ot the controller switch in open position, the wiring connections being indicated in dotted lines, the supplemental contacts for the controller circuit being omitted for aclearer showing ot other parts.

Figue 2 is a side elevation, the supplemental contacts being in position.

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

Figure d is a fragmentary section on line ot Figure 3 showing'the'supplemental contacts for the control-circuit in top plan.

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 ot Figure Q.

`erial No. 501,487.

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram for a three phase power system.

Figures 7 and S are diagrams illustrating the application of this invention to a direct current system.

Figures 9 and l0 are diagrams further illustrating an application ot the invention to alternating and direct current systems, respectiyely.

The controller is illustrated in Figures l to 5 and comprises a base member l `in-the torni of a substantially rectangular shallow pan. Atene ond this base has an upstand ingv wall 2 having a substantially rectangular marginal llange 3 extending toward theopposite end of the base l. The tlange Slis spaced inwardly troni the edge of the wall 2 to torni a socket iior the reception ota cover member, not shown, which is adapted. with the pan l, to enclose the switch elements to be later described.

Extending inwardly from thev wall 2 within the flange is a boss l shown in dot-V ted lines in Figures l and Q. his boss is centrally perforated andtoifins a bcaringi'or a-.frock sha itin The lower end ot the wall' Ahas an outstanding, bracket inen'rber t5 terminating at its outer upper end in a boss T which terms a second bearing lor the shaft 5v spaced from` the bearing Positioned between the bcaringsd'and I is an actuating pulley or wheel 8 fixed to the shaft-.5. This wheel 8 has marginal langcs 9 between which may be wound the actuating cable which passes lengthwise el" the elevator shaft-way and which may be moved by the operator lor the purpose ot rockingthe shaft't 5 to iiake and break the control contacts as will later be described. This wheel 8 has a central web portion l0 having a boss 1l perforated for the reception ot'the shaft 5 and to which the shaft is made tast as by a set screw 'l2 see Figure l). rl`he web l0 is cut away as shown at ll in Figure 3 lo an extent sutlicienlV to allow the bracket 6 land the bearing 7 to be passed therethrough.

The wheel is thus assembled on the shaft 5 with the bracket (S extending through the cut-out 13, by which construction it is evidentthat the shaft 5 is limited to a pal"- 'tial rotation by the edges of the cut-out 13 engageable with opposite sides of the braclret'6 on the rocking of the shaft. At the point 16 is shown a flange near the outer circumference of the wheel arranged substantially parallel to the' web 10, this flange and the web carrying therebetween a bolt 1T to serve as an anchoring means for the actuating cable. Bearings 4 and 7 furnish the sole support for the rock shaft 5, the

free end of which entends over the pan 1- and to which switch arms may be attached.`

As shown more particularly inV Figure 5, the free end of shaft 5 is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 2O and is perforated at intervalsV as shown at 21 for the reception Vof insulating i bushings 22. rlhrough these bushings may be passed bolts 23 for securing switch' arms 24 toroclr ywith the shaft 5.

he bolts pass through washers as 25 beyond which they may carry metal washers as 26 against( which are Aplaced lock washers vas 27 heldin place by nuts 23 threaded on the bolt ends. By this means the switch arms are'made fast to the shaft 5 but Vthoroughly insulated therefrom. y

The wall 2 adjacent its 'lower portion has a pair'of inwardly extending bosses 30'which are vperforated for the reception of rods 31. 'These rods V31Y project substantially parallel to the shaft 5 and are preferably polygonal in cross section, being shown herein as square. These rods are preferably covered with a layer of insulation 32, as shown more clearly in Figures 2V and 3, andare adapted to carry spaced thereon contact elements 33 which may beclamped against rotationy These elements maybe of any Ysuitable construction, but as herein shown thereon.

each comprises a contact shoe34 spring-supported by means of a coil spring 35 surs rounding a guide pin 36 from an arm 37 which is bent to partially surround the bar 31 and which is clamped thereto by a mating member 37'a and tighteningbolts 38 extending therebetween. These contacts are of usual construction and hence no'detailed de-V scription is deemed necessary. At 39 are shown binding screws for attachment Vof wires to the member 37a. The contacts 34 are preferably provided on opposite sides of the shaft 5 and in substantially horizontal alinement therewith, the arms 24 being adapted to contact therewith when in sub-V may ridea roller 'carried by the lever 40.

rhis roller is urged against the flange 43 by means of a stii" spring 46 reacting between the free end of this lever and the base member 1, if desired guide lugs 47 and 48 being made fast to these parts for properly centering` the spring. Y l

rihe switch arms 24, above mentioned, are of two types, one of which is shown at 24 preferably arranged nearest thewall 2.Y Pof sitioned diametrically opposite this Contact arm is a similar arm 24, these armsV being arranged to simultaneously contact with contacts 33'positioned` on opposite sides thereof and one carried by each of the bars 31. These two contacts 24 are in'electrical connection through the shaft `5 and furnish lmain switch elements in series with the novoltage opening switch magnet, as will be later arms 24 are double, as indicated at 24, to bridge a pair of adjacent contacts 33 carried by one of the bars 31. These elements 24u are staggered on opposite sides of the' shaft 5 Vand insulated from eachother, and are so positioned as toreverse the electrical connections therethrough when contacting with contacts carried by opposite bars 31. These elements furnish the reversing switch connections for the motor.

Positioned to be contacted by the arms 24 at certain timesare a pair of supplemental contacts `shown at 50 and 51. These contacts are similarly constructed but reversely arranged on opposite sides of the shaft 5 and positioned above the contacts 33. Each supplemental contact comprises a plate 52 of conducting material having a pair of arcuate slots 53 and 54 therein. Passed through these slots are pins 55 and 56 carried by a cross bar support 57, carried by a pair of posts 5 3 (see Figure 4) from a plate 59 which is madefast to a flange depending described.` The remaining contact 'a EUG from the `upper outer edge of the flange 3.

-Each plate 52 has a slot 61 in its upper face and resting` in these slots are opposite ends of a spring wire`62 which Vis fixed at its central portion at 63 to an insulating block and is in electrical connection to a binding screw V64 by which'it is attached to a conductor 65. The lower :end'of the slot 53 is open, but the lower end of the slot 54 terminates at an inclined face 66 to which is made fast a strip of insulation 67. The slots 53 and 54 are suciently large tol permit the block 52 to rock readily on either pin 55 and 56 as a center, the blocks being retained in position thereon by means such as washers 68 hel-d in position by cotter pins 69 passed through the pins 56. These parts are so positioned relative to the switch arms 24 that kwhen the shaft 5v is rocked to vbring arms 24- from open position to closed posi tion with contacts 33 as shown in Figure 7 in full lines, one of the blocks 50 or 51 will be contacted on its conducting portion. For example, whenthefright hand arm Qeis approaching the right handv Contact 37, the bloclr l is impinged by the arm 2d' along its inner surface, this bloclr beingroclredl about the pin 56 as a center, the outer-end of the block tilting upwardly about the pink 55' as shown. As thev shaft xroclrs sufliciently to bring the lett hand arm 2i upward into contact with the lett hand Contact 33, the circuit is closed through this lett hand contact, the arms 2li and the bloclr 5l to the wire Should the arm 219e' be moyedfrom closed to open position, as shownfin dotted lines in Figure 7 at the lett, the outer end oi' Vthearm Q4. inipinges against the insulating strip (3T, rocking the block 50 upwardly about'the pivot 55 as a center. As the insulationv portion G7 is contacted, it is evident that electrical connection is rnadebetween` the contacts 37 and the block 50. rlhis "con-` dition continues until the arms 24 are out oit engagementwith the. contacts 33 whereupon the block is rocked suiiiciently to clear the end of the cont-act arm and drops Idownwardly into its idle position supported by both the pins and 56, this action being facilitated by the resiliency et the spring wire G2. :it is thus evident that when the shatt- 5 is turned to bring the arms 24 from their olf positions to their closed positions with thecontacts 83, one or the other oit the blocks 50 er 51 is brought into electrical contact therewith and thatwhen the arms 2aaremoved from closed;to open position they fail to make velectrical contact with either supplemental contact.

In `Figure 6' is shown a diagramiot the Wiringconnections by which this action of the arms and contact-s is utilized. Referring to this ligure at G is indicated diagrammatically aclosing magnet for a no-Voltage openingy switch-indicated at A. This switch is of any suitable type but as herein shown is ofthe three pole type and two poles Lare interposed in a fpair ot'wires leading to the three phase motor M. At a ando and c are shown t-he Wires leading to the three phase source or" power. The leads la andub are adapted to be reversely. connected to the phase windings ot the niotor'in orderfto reverse the direction of the motor by means of the double Contact arms 24a. Shunted across one ot the phases ol!- the motor is a circuit comprising the contact arms 9.4 the magnet G and one arm 70 ot the switch A. `When the switch A is opened, as when anovoltage condition has occurred in this switchJ the magnet G will tail to be energized through arms 2li and contacts 33 and the main switch will not be closed. lt may, however, be closed by means a suppleinertel circuit through the blocls 5() or l. and the wire shunting the arm TO of theswitch A. For:-exaniple,supposel the switch arinis movedin a... direction tozcontact andzmalr'e electrical. connection f with the bloclr- 50, the circuit is completed-g froninthev right. hand contact vto the. arms 24, .the block 50,: the

wire fthrough the niagnet1G and tothe the magnet Gv maintaining:r the switch. A

closed. Similar action talresplace when the rocln shai't is niovedto Vconnect .the motor in reversed relation except the block lfis contacted instead of the block 50. Slrouldthe current to the motor be interrupted `for any reason the switch magnet G iinmediatelyberf conies deeenergized andthe main switch A opens; pressed on the lines (L, Z), ando, the blocks 50 and 5l being out of electrical connection, theinagnet G remains cle-energized.' due to. the switch arin being-fopen.V It. the control sh'att is rocked backwardly` toward the open position.`- of the switch, arm Qdvv contacts with the insulating portionof one or. the other ol these blocks, and tails toinalre shunt connection about the switch arm 70. The controller shaft niaythereztore be turned completely to oit' position without such contact having been edected. On subsequent motion thereof toward running. position in either direction one or theother of the blocks 50er yi'is contacted as above described to complete the circuit around rvthe open switch To and through the niagnetf G to energize thisfinaguet and close tlieswitchA. It desired, interposed inA thercircuitfto the mage netxG are the elevator' safetydevices otany suitable or: usual description ait-.7l such as a slack cable release, open doors release, or thewell switch'`y which'throws oit the power when the car has vtraversed. beyond .its proper stoppingy place.

InFigures Tand 8 is shownithis device as designed torfdirect current systems. In this ase the'switch arms 24a are connected up. to reverse the direction of. current through`the motor armature shown at'll/I, a, the compound? tieldwindings being indicated at ,ll/l, f. rlhe line wires areA indicated at Zand e anduat- 72 is indicated a double pole switch. Shunted across the lines (Z and e isacircuit containing the magnet. G for closing and holding closed the switch/72. This circuit may be closed either by bridging one of the supplemental contacts 50 or 5l with one ot the adjacent contacts 33, the right vhand contact 33being'chosen'in the diagram, or by connecting across the cont-acts 33 by the arms 247.. When closed in the latter manner, however, a resistance 74 is interposed inthe circuit` thisresistance beingfof such a value as to permit sutlicienticu-rrenttoxpass to hold H then the Voltage is again ini;-

aan

the switch 72 closed but insuiicient current to close this switch if it is open. This resistance is the equivalentof the switch arm 70cm Figure 6 since it acts to prevent the closing of the main switch to the motor by bridging contacts 33 andY necessitates connection previously through one of the suppleinentalV contacts or 5l for the switcl to close and remain closed. i

lt-is not essential 'that al double contactarm 2d be employed, Figures 9 and l() indicating diagrammatically how a single arm 24 may be utilizedl inI both alternatingY and direct current systems. in Figure 9 the control magnet Grl is. in series with a circuit closed by the` ar n 24 between either contact 50 Vor 5l and its adjacent contact 33, the switchv armi() in shunt about these contacts being closed by the magnet Gr. lhen the switch 'T0 is so closed by initial actuation of the magnet Gr through the arm 24, it maintains the magnet (t energized so long as voltage exists across the lines. rEhe magnet Gr also controls the main motor switchl (not shown) as before described.

In Figure l() for direct circuit systems, a resistance is Vshown substituted for the switch ofFigureQ and passes suiiicient current to hold magnet G closed butinsuficient current to close it when open. A switch controlled by the magnet G might be used if desired, however, in'placo of the resistance in either of the' direct current systems shown. .Safety devices as 71 are shown interposedV in the magnet circuit Gr in the manner before `described and at 75 is shown an accelerating device for cutting out resistances in the armature circuit to control the speed of the motor.

While this invention `has been described in connection with theV three phase and direct current systems, it is evident that it is also applicable to single or multi-phase systems of any type,-it being only necessary to provide a sufficient' number of reverse switch arms 24a properly connected in the motor circuitv to rev rse the motor, and the circuit for the -lio-voltage switch having an arm opened with the opening of the switch and in circuit with the main switch contacts, and a b v-pass for this arm controlled by the supplemental contacts and by which initial closing of the no-voltage switch maybe effected.

The construction of switch shown permits the switch arms to be placed in position over the free end of the rock shaft without dis.

assembling other parts.V The contacts 33 may also be placed in position as desired without necessitating disassembling of the parts so that it is a. comparatively easy matter to assemble the arms and contacts as required kfor the particular system to lwhich the controller switch is to be applied.

1While as shown the no-voltage switch is is closed by a magnet it is evident that it might be otherwise controlled, it being only essential thatthe supple-mental circuit actuated by the controllerron moving it to closed position serves to initially close the no-voltage switch.

'Having thus described certain embodiments if this invention it will be evident that many changes and modifications mightinsulating portions, and aswitch arm movable to impin'e on said contacts serially, said arm contacting'the.conducting portion of said supplemental contact to close a circuit therethrough when impinging in oneorder of sequence, and contacting the insulated portion to n'iaintuin said circuit open when impinging in the reverse order.

2, A switch comprising a main contact, a switch arm movable to and from said contact to close and break electrical connection therewith, and a supplemental contact in the path of motion of said arm and having conducting and non-conducting portions, said conducting portion being contacted by said armas said arm moves to close electrical connection with said main cont-act, and said nonconducting portionv being contacted' when said arm moves to break said connection.'

3. A switch comprising a main contact, a switch arm movable to and from said contact to close and break electrical connection therewith, and a supplemental contact in the path of motion of said arm and having con-V ducting and non-conducting portions, .said conducting portion being contacted by said ar n as said arm moves to close electrical connection with'said main contact, andsaid nonc Y switch arm, contacts carried by said support and engageable byrsaid arm, a wheel having an opening therethrough fixed to 'said shaft outwardly of said bearing, a bracket extending through such opening, and. a bearing for the shaft outwardly of said wheel carried by said bracket. Y v

5. A switch comprising a'support, a bearing at one end of said support, Va roch shaft journaled in said bearing and carrying a switch arm, contacts carried'by said support and engageable by said arm, a wheel havingv an opening therethrough fixed to'said shaft outwardly of said bearing, ac bracket extending through said opening, a bearing for the shaft outwardly of'said Wheel carried by said bracket, and bumping blocks carried by said Wheel at opposite Sides of saol opening; adapted to contact said bracket to limit the rocking motion of said shaft in opposite directions.

6. In combination, a support, a switch contact having a pair ot pivotal connections to Said support about either of which it malY be turned7 and a movable switch arm arranged on movement in one direction to move said contact about one ot' said connections and on movement in the opposite direction to move Said contact about the other of said connections.

7. In combination a support, a switch contact comprising a plate having a p of arcuate slots therein, a pin extending i'roni said support through each ot' said slots and about either ot which said plate nr be rocked, said plate having' electroconducting and insulating portions, and a contact arm movable in one direction to inoinge on sait?. insulating portion and roch soul pinto about one of Said pins, and movable in another direction to impinge on said conducting portion and rock said plate about the other ot Said pins.

8. ln combination, a support, a switch contact comprising a plate having a pair ot arcuate slots therein, a pin extending from said Support through each of said slots and about either ot' which said plate may be roclecl, said plate having elect-roconducting and insulating portions, a contact arm movable in one direction to iinpinge on said insulating portion. and rock said plate 'about one oi said pins and movable in another direction to impinge on said conducting portion and roel; said plate about the other of said pins, and means for normali)7 holding Said plate in one position.

9. in combination, a support, a switch contact comprising a plate having a pair of arcuate slots therein, a pin extending from said support through each of said slots and about either of which said plate may be rocked, saifl plate having,` electroconclucting and insulating portions, a contact arm niovable in one direction to impinge on said insuiating portion and roclr said plate about one ot said pins and movable in another direction to inipinge on said conducting portion and roch said plate about the other of said pins, and a spring bearing on said plate anni urging it to a position with each ot said pins contacting` one end of the correlponding slot. u

ln testimony whereof l signature.

BARTN B. MCLAUTHLIN.

Lave aihxefl my 

